1 Corinthians 9:21
New International Version
To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.

New Living Translation
When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

English Standard Version
To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

Berean Standard Bible
To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.

Berean Literal Bible
To those outside the Law, as outside the Law (not being outside the law of God, but under the law of Christ) so that I might win those outside the Law.

King James Bible
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

New King James Version
to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;

New American Standard Bible
to those who are without the Law, I became as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law.

NASB 1995
to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.

NASB 1977
to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law.

Legacy Standard Bible
To those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.

Amplified Bible
To those who are without (outside) the Law, [I became] as one without the Law, though [I am] not without the law of God, but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.

Christian Standard Bible
To those who are without the law, like one without the law—though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
To those who are without that law, like one without the law—not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law—to win those without the law.

American Standard Version
to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And to those who do not have The Written Law, I was as without The Law, while I am not without law to God, but in the law of The Messiah, that I may win those who are without The Written Law.

Contemporary English Version
And when I am with people who are not ruled by the Law, I forget about the Law to win them. Of course, I never really forget about the law of God. In fact, I am ruled by the law of Christ.

Douay-Rheims Bible
To them that are under the law, as if I were under the law, (whereas myself was not under the law,) that I might gain them that were under the law. To them that were without the law, as if I were without the law, (whereas I was not without the law of God, but was in the law of Christ,) that I might gain them that were without the law.

English Revised Version
to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I became like a person who does not have Moses' Teachings for those who don't have those teachings. I did this to win them even though I have God's teachings. I'm really subject to Christ's teachings.

Good News Translation
In the same way, when working with Gentiles, I live like a Gentile, outside the Jewish Law, in order to win Gentiles. This does not mean that I don't obey God's law; I am really under Christ's law.

International Standard Version
To those who do not have the Law, I became like a man who does not have the Law in order to win those who do not have the Law. However, I am not free from God's Law, but I'm subject to the Messiah's law.

Literal Standard Version
to those without law, as without law—(not being without law to God, but within law to Christ)—that I might gain those without law;

Majority Standard Bible
To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.

New American Bible
To those outside the law I became like one outside the law—though I am not outside God’s law but within the law of Christ—to win over those outside the law.

NET Bible
To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God's law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.

New Revised Standard Version
To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law.

New Heart English Bible
to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.

Webster's Bible Translation
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

Weymouth New Testament
to men without Law as if I were without Law--although I am not without Law in relation to God but am abiding in Christ's Law--in order to win those who are without Law.

World English Bible
to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.

Young's Literal Translation
to those without law, as without law -- (not being without law to God, but within law to Christ) -- that I might gain those without law;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul the Servant to All
20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. 21To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.…

Cross References
Romans 2:12
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

Romans 2:14
Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

1 Corinthians 7:22
For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.

Galatians 2:3
Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

Galatians 3:2
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

Galatians 6:2
Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

them.

Acts 15:28
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Acts 16:4
And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

Acts 21:25
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

not.

1 Corinthians 7:19-22
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God…

Psalm 119:32
I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

Matthew 5:17-20
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil…

Jump to Previous
Abiding Although Christ Christ's Free Gain God's Good Law News Order Outside Relation Subject Win
Jump to Next
Abiding Although Christ Christ's Free Gain God's Good Law News Order Outside Relation Subject Win
1 Corinthians 9
1. He shows his liberty;
7. and that the minister ought to receive a living by the Gospel;
15. yet that himself has of his own accord abstained,
18. to be neither chargeable unto them,
22. nor offensive unto any, in matters indifferent.
24. Our life is like unto a race.














(21) To them that are without law--i.e., the heathen. St. Paul adapted himself to their habits and mode of thought when necessary. He quoted from their literature (Acts 17:28); he based an argument on the inscriptions on their altars (Acts 17:23); and he did not require them to adopt Jewish ceremonies (Galatians 2:9; Galatians 2:11). The parenthesis explains in what sense only St. Paul was "without" the Law, so as to prevent the possibility of this statement being used as a justification of lawlessness. As being one with Christ, he was indeed under the law of God as revealed in the person, work, and teaching of the Lord. (See Galatians 6:2.)

Verse 21. - To them that are without law, as without law. In other words, I so far became to the heathen as a heathen (Romans 2:12), that I never wilfully insulted their beliefs (Acts 19:87) nor shocked their prejudices, but on the contrary, judged them with perfect forbearance (Acts 17:30) and treated them with invariable courtesy. St, Paul tried to look at every subject, so far as he could do so innocently, from 'their point of view (Acts 17.). He defended their gospel liberty, and had intercourse with Gentile converts on terms of perfect equality (Galatians 2:12). Not without law to God. Not even "without law" (anomos) Much less "opposed to law" (antiheroes), though free from it as a bondage (Galatians 2:19). The need for this qualification is shown by the fact that in the Clementine writings, in the spurious letter of Peter to James, St. Paul is surreptitiously calumniated as "the lawless one." Even the Gentiles were "not without law to God" (Romans 2:14, 15). So that St. Paul is here using language which base opponents might distort, but which the common sense of honest readers would prevent them from misinterpreting.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
To those
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

without [the] Law
ἀνόμοις (anomois)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 459: Lawless, wicked, without law. (by implication, a Gentile), or (positively) wicked.

[I became like one]
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

without [the] Law
ἄνομος (anomos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 459: Lawless, wicked, without law. (by implication, a Gentile), or (positively) wicked.

([though I] am
ὢν (ōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

outside [the] law
ἄνομος (anomos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 459: Lawless, wicked, without law. (by implication, a Gentile), or (positively) wicked.

of God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

but [am]
ἀλλ’ (all’)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

under [the] law
ἔννομος (ennomos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1772: (a) legal, statutory, duly constituted, (b) under the law, obedient to the law. From en and nomos; legal, or subject to.

of Christ),
Χριστοῦ (Christou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

to
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

win
κερδάνω (kerdanō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2770: To gain, acquire, win (over), avoid loss. From kerdos; to gain.

those
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

without [the] Law.
ἀνόμους (anomous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 459: Lawless, wicked, without law. (by implication, a Gentile), or (positively) wicked.


Links
1 Corinthians 9:21 NIV
1 Corinthians 9:21 NLT
1 Corinthians 9:21 ESV
1 Corinthians 9:21 NASB
1 Corinthians 9:21 KJV

1 Corinthians 9:21 BibleApps.com
1 Corinthians 9:21 Biblia Paralela
1 Corinthians 9:21 Chinese Bible
1 Corinthians 9:21 French Bible
1 Corinthians 9:21 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 9:21 To those who are without law as (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 9:20
Top of Page
Top of Page